1. STRESS
MEDITATION,
YOGA AND NAMASMARAN
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. Can we feel relaxed simply by meditation even as we are in
the STRESS of paying about 30 percent income tax (apart
from sales tax, property tax etc.) without knowing how it is
spent?
Can we feel relaxed by sheer practice of meditation; even
as we have to undergo STRESS of taking such decisions
under some pressure and against your conscience?
Can we feel relaxed just by meditation; even while taking
the suffering of STRESS from all such decisions; lying
down?
Can we conquer the STRESS of commuting irrespective of
the crowding and other traveling menaces; merely by
meditation?
Can we conquer the STRESS of lack of housing, water,
electricity, education, medical care etc. by meditation
alone?
It is true that various practices of meditation and yoga, are
“marketed and sold” or “bought” by many of us so as to
conquer STRESS. In contrast; NAMASMARAN is not
directly sold and can not be sold.

3. It is true that the fashion, fancy or whim of meditation and
yoga, which can be “marketed and sold”; has greater
potential to cheat and get cheated financially. Whereas;
NAMASMARAN is free and hence there is no scope for
financial cheating or getting cheated; directly.
(Many self styled gurus and cults organized around them;
can sell the “specialization of giving or advising name of
God”; though NAMASMARAN as such is not directly
marketed or sold)
But the question in common is; “Can the practice of
MEDITATION, YOGA and/or NAMASMARAN “help”
the leaders, policy makers, decision makers, planners,
administrators and the sufferers amongst us; to evolve and
transform the scenario, and if yes; when?” Or is the
philosophy and practice of MEDITATION, YOGA or
NAMASMARAN a mere “running after the mirage of
STRESS MANAGEMENT”?
Are these questions erratic, irrelevant or heretic? Is it
arrogant to think; that it is “self inflicted spiritual
castration; to neglect every evil in self and the society and
keep practicing MEDITATION, YOGA or

4. NAMASMARAN; without any reference to the objective
material conditions”?
The answer provided is that; all religious precepts,
spiritual endeavors, spiritual disciplines, festivals,
celebrations and a variety of rituals including
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; are
basically meant for evolving objective or holistic
perspective and working in accordance with it.
If we take the analogy of the body functions, then the
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; constitute
the biochemical, biophysical and bioelectrical activities in
brain; and holistic international perspective, policy
making, programs and implementation at ground level;
constitute intellectual, emotional, instinctual and physical
manifestations.
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN never were,
never are and never would be sterile in terms of individual
and global blossoming; but when marketed, sold or freely
distributed, if they are cut off from ground realities; and
devoid of the holistic solutions, then they are merely the
caricatures of “MEDITATION, YOGA and

5. NAMASMARAN” and hence sterile and often
counterproductive!
Looking at from another angle; MEDITATION, YOGA
and NAMASMARAN are actually the states of being
when we are connected with our true selves or our innate
core; in as much the are procedure or methods! As the
methods; they are really incomplete and inadequate;
without certain essential prerequisites. In other words;
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN as
methods; are like breathing OXYGEN and are essential
for life; but incomplete and inadequate without other
physiological activities required for optimum health; so as
to reach the ultimate enlightenment; the states of
culmination of the practice of YOGA, MEDITATION
and NAMASMARAN.
Let us remember that as methods; YOGA,
MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN are NOT complete
and certainly NOT the ENDS in themselves.
Taking example from day to day life; all of us know, that
as a rule; we have to finish, primary, secondary and
college training before we take up the study or research
of Ph D. Similarly; we have to; as a rule; go through;

6. physical, psychomotor, productive, instinctual, emotional,
intellectual, creative and spiritual study and practices; for
our inner growth and blossoming; and arrive at,
understand and practice the holistic solutions in the fields
of health, education, agriculture, education, industry,
environment (schools, colleges and universities) and reach
their culmination the final enlightened states of TOGA
MEDIATTION and NAMASMARAN (Ph. D.);
What we practice under the guise of “meditation” in
absence of such solutions is harmful and a schizoid and
knowingly or unknowingly hypocritical and hence
detrimental activity of trying to convince ourselves and
preach others; that we are ATMA. SOULS, BRAHMA,
YOGIS, SACCHIDANANDA i.e. the eternal bliss
personified etc; when in fact we are in agony and misery.
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are
actually the evolved states of being as we blossom; in the
process of active efforts to implement holistic solutions to
individual and social problems! The validity of this
statement can be verified through our experience; but
NOT merely by a casual approach and casual enquiry;
without any study and practice.

7. One more problem is that of fear; but not of death,
disease, dejection, debility etc; but of depersonalization;
i.e. living without a particular identity; such as lawyer,
artist, scientist, and farmer; because of MEDITATION,
YOGA and NAMASMARAN.
This is paradoxical! Every identity has some capability,
some skills, some influence. But during STRESS the
power becomes less, and the drawbacks and liabilities of
the identity start mounting. Thus; a lawyer may lose
his/her practice, artist may not lose his/her popularity,
scientist may fail in his/her experiments and the farmer
may suffer loss due to drought.
The reason we suffer and build up our STRESS; is not
merely because of the financial loss; but due to the
unbearable burden of the liability of our identity! Our
identity is a part of our ego. Since the identity becomes a
liability; our ego is hurt, which produces unbearable
STRESS!
The solution to this problem is to retrieve the strength
from the deepest core that is beyond our ego and identity.
Naturally most of the traditional and rational stress
management experts advise the practice of

8. MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN, which help
us disperse the clouds of our identity and ego (akin to
depersonalization); which is essential and inevitable for
reaching our core; the source of light and power!
But since we are habituated or addicted to live with our
identities; egos or personalities; we find it dreadful and
insecure to live without them. We question; “How to (and
also why) forget ourselves; in MEDITATION, YOGA and
NAMASMARAN? Isn’t it frightening to forget ourselves?
Moreover, isn’t forgetting ourselves voluntarily; almost
impossible? Besides isn’t it akin to a defeatist state of total
self effacement, self denial, escapism and cowardice?”
This question is asked; especially because;
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are devoid
of any tangible assurance or support! They do not provide
any sensory pleasure. They are neither pleasant to look at
nor melodious to ears! Neither they have haunting smell
nor do they have gustatory charm. Neither they are a
matter of sexual excitement nor are they a matter of
melodrama. Neither do they satisfy intellectual urge nor
do they produce any humor! Neither do they bloat our ego
nor do they provide any emotional solace.

9. When we begin the practice of MEDITAITION, YOGA
and NAMASMARAN; we are afraid of this life without
any identity, ego; and without any concrete security and
support! This appears like death!
We have to appreciate that; even as this peculiarity of
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; makes
them dreadful; this very peculiarity itself makes us
capable and empowered to live without any support! It is
this peculiarity that makes them the most sought after and
cherished treasure for the seekers of truth; through
millennia and through out the world.
Let us understand that this “supportless living”; without
the clouds of identity and ego; empowers us to be support
ourselves! This life is not the same as; (in fact quite
different from) debilitating depersonalization when we
becomes oblivious to our personality due to dementia,
unconsciousness or ignorance as well as state of getting
excited, elated, disturbed, agitated or unhappy in a variety
of situations due to our identities or ego.
In this state there is forgetting of all individual and
subjective doubts and suspicions; while we are engaged
in satisfactorily remedying the situations from the root

10. cause! In this state; we are focused on; as well as active
and in harmony with the controlling center (which is
beyond the concept of change and often referred to as
BHAGAVANT or PARAMATMA) of all situations,
which are ever-changing and illusive (and hence often
referred to as MAYA in Indian literature).
In other words; in this state of “being the support
ourselves” we do not think that “we need support”, or “we
provide support” as we feel when we are caged in our
identities, egos and personalities. In this state of
empowerment we have outgrown them! There is no “kick
of doing”; but in stead; there is “ecstasy of being
harmony”; with nature or God.
But mere intellectual explanations; and theoretical
discussions, arguments and deliberations and
controversies on the intricacies involved in stress
management; without actual experimentation; are
NOT useful. They do not reach the seeds of our
being; the seeds of our happiness! The practice and
propagation of NAMASMARAN; however; reaches
and nurtures these seeds of our being and the
happiness blossoms!

11. We need not believe or disbelieve in any of this
blindly and impatiently! It is better accept
provisionally; think over, study and give TOTAL
STRESS MANAGEMENT (the core of which is
NAMASMARAN) a fair trial, if and when we feel
the urge!